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This month, let’s take a closer look at the Cognitive Development Domain, focusing on nature and science.    Cognitive development involves how children think, explore, and figure things out. It refers to things such as memory, and the ability to learn new information. This domain includes the development of knowledge and skills in math, science, social studies, and creative arts.    Research shows […]

1. Start TODAY. Start adjusting your child’s bedtime before the time change. In the days leading up to the switch, begin adjusting your child’s bedtime by 10 to 15 minutes. In the case of “spring forward,” put them to bed earlier. 2. Sync their internal clock naturally. Our bodies’ natural clock, or circadian rhythm, is […]

This month, let’s take a closer look at the Language Domain, focusing on the development of oral language and vocabulary  Vocabulary and oral language development is the foundation of later literacy skills, such as reading and writing. Research shows that exposing children to unfamiliar words in conversation has a positive impact on vocabulary development; and using complex, or “spicy,” […]

This month, let’s take a closer look at the Physical Development Domain, focusing on the development of healthy habits. Helping children learn healthy habits early contributes to a long and happy life! The best way to learn healthy habits at any age is through hand-on, practical experiences. These experiences should show children the benefits of […]

By Kelly Holland What kid doesn’t love getting dirty? Most will jump at the chance to start an indoor garden with you and help to provide a source of healthy and inexpensive food for your family. It’s also a great way to get them to eat their veggies and keep them busy during the winter! […]

By Nicole Spain, Registered Dietitian Winter is a great time to spend baking in the kitchen. Kids of all ages will love to learn to bake by giving you a helping hand.  We’ve broken it down into easy tasks perfect for kiddos from toddler to pre-teen, so grab your little ones and teach them more […]

This month, let’s take a closer look at the Physical Development Domain, focusing on fine and gross motor skill development. Physical development occurs most rapidly during the first two years of a child’s life. This period of a child’s life also sees the greatest brain development. In fact, during the first two years, the weight […]

This month, let’s take a closer look at the Social-Emotional Domain, focusing on social development. Social development is the process through which children learn to build relationships. It involves learning the values, knowledge, and skills necessary to understand how to get along with others. Everyday experiences at home support children’s developing social skills. Families give children […]

By Nicole Spain, Registered Dietitian Last week, I discussed how we create our menus at our schools and today, I’m going to show you how to develop well-balanced and delicious meals at home!  Here are some simple tips to help you get started: Checkout the MyPlate menu planner to help you along the way! Many […]

This month, let’s take a closer look at the Social-Emotional Domain, focusing specifically on the emotional development. Emotional development begins with learning to identify and express our own feelings. When we can acknowledge and accept our feelings, we can learn to manage them and to recognize what other people may be feeling. This is the […]

By Nicole Spain, Registered Dietitian The planning that our team does for your child’s menu at school has requirements that are laid out by the USDA and state licensing agencies.  By following the USDA guidelines, we are ensuring your child has foods that provide a variety of vitamins and minerals as well as fiber, while […]

Observing children as they grow is one of life’s great joys. Supporting children as they grow is our most important responsibility. As children grow, they acquire skills in five general domains, or areas, of development:  Approaches to Learning Social & Emotional Development Physical Development Language Development Cognitive Development (which includes math, science, and creative arts) […]